Water Wednesday: Earth Day Series
Earth Day is a good occasion to remember that 70% of the earth’s surface is covered by water, most of it oceans.
Children of all ages love playing with water, in water, on water. You will love that they grow in multiple developmental areas with such a simple, inexpensive toy: H2O.
Infants will enjoy water play whether it happens inside or outside, and even if you insist on calling it a “bath.” Babies slap at the water to make splashes, to hear new sounds, and to investigate cause and effect (cognitive development). Bath time enhances body awareness and motor development — underwater kicks feel different, and the warm temperature of bathwater touches skin like no other substance can. To extend bath time (or wading pool) fun and learning, add:
- Plastic, non-breakable cups for filling, pouring, capturing soap suds.
- Brand-new sponges in different sizes for squeezing.
- Bath-size squirt toys.
- Large plastic spatulas for stirring and even bigger splashing than hands alone can accomplish.
Toddlers and young children definitely need to be outdoors to experience all that water and their imaginations will inspire them to do.
Offer them:
- Paint brushes. Kids this age will enjoy “painting” the driveway, sidewalks, the bricks on your house. They will use fine motor skills, gross motor skills, thinking ahead and planning skills to complete their project.
- Hoses. Some nozzles have several spray patterns built in. When your child tests different ones to find the best one for washing the remnants of yesterday’s chalk drawing off the sidewalk, she will engage in higher order thinking skills.
- Sponges. If you’re going to spend all that time outside, getting water in your crocs, don’t you at least deserve to have help getting your windows washed? Don’t be bashful — chores are an important part of self-care (emotional development) and responsibility (social development).
- Squirt bottles. When they play water tag (and you know they will), a squirt bottle helps them aim, and helps you make sure eyes, ears, and feelings don’t get water logged.
Check back tomorrow for more of Earth Day all week at MommyGarten.com!
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Carly Jennings | Motor Development | 
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